U.S. patent number 10,161,437 [Application Number 15/359,063] was granted by the patent office on 2018-12-25 for retaining element.
The grantee listed for this patent is Wolfgang-Peter Geller. Invention is credited to Wolfgang-Peter Geller.
United States Patent |
10,161,437 |
Geller |
December 25, 2018 |
Retaining element
Abstract
A retaining element that is detachably securable to a connector
that is securable to a threaded bushing embedded in the bottom of a
camera housing for preventing the connector screw from loosening in
the threaded bushing. The retaining element has a connecting
section, a spacer section and a rear-engagement section. The
connecting section detachably secures the retaining element to the
connector screw. The spacer section adjoins the connecting section
and extends along the bottom of the camera housing when the
connector screw, with the retaining element secured thereto, is
screwed into the threaded bushing. The rear-engagement section
adjoins the spacer section and extends at an angle relative to the
spacer section. The rear-engagement section engages behind a wall
of the camera housing, in particular the rear wall that adjoins the
bottom of the camera housing.
Inventors: |
Geller; Wolfgang-Peter
(Garlstorf, DE) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Geller; Wolfgang-Peter |
Garlstorf |
N/A |
DE |
|
|
Family
ID: |
57240874 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/359,063 |
Filed: |
November 22, 2016 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20170152882 A1 |
Jun 1, 2017 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Nov 26, 2015 [DE] |
|
|
20 2015 106 449 U |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03B
17/561 (20130101); A45F 3/14 (20130101); F16M
11/14 (20130101); F16M 13/04 (20130101); F16M
11/041 (20130101); A45F 5/00 (20130101); G03B
17/566 (20130101); G03B 17/56 (20130101); F16B
39/24 (20130101); G03B 17/02 (20130101); A45F
2005/006 (20130101); A45F 2200/0533 (20130101); F16M
2200/00 (20130101); A45F 2003/142 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F16B
39/10 (20060101); F16M 13/04 (20060101); A45F
5/00 (20060101); A45F 3/14 (20060101); F16M
11/04 (20060101); F16M 11/14 (20060101); F16B
39/24 (20060101); G03B 17/56 (20060101); G03B
17/02 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;411/119,120,123-124 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Delisle; Roberta S
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Sand & Sebolt
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A retaining element that is detachably secured at a connector
screw embedded in a threaded bushing at a bottom of a camera
housing for preventing the connector screw from loosening in the
threaded bushing, the retaining element comprising the following
components: i) a connecting section adapted to detachably secure
the retaining element to the connector screw; wherein the
connecting section is formed as an open and elastically deformable
clamping ring and wherein the retaining element is adapted to have
a force-locking connection to a handle section of the connector
screw; ii) a spacer section which adjoins the connecting section
and is adapted to extend along the bottom of the camera housing
when the connector screw, with the retaining element secured
thereto, is screwed in the threaded bushing; and iii) a
rear-engagement section which adjoins the spacer section and
extends at an angle relative to the spacer section, wherein the
rear-engagement section is adapted to engage behind a wall of the
camera housing, in particular the rear wall which adjoins the
bottom of the camera housing; and a closure section detachably
connectable to the connecting section and complementing the
connecting section to form a ring adapted to completely surround a
region of the connector screw, wherein the spacer section and the
rear-engagement section are arranged at the connecting section or
at the closure section.
2. The retaining element according to claim 1, wherein the
connecting section has a pin adapted to be inserted into a radial
slot in a section of the connector screw or compressed between a
collar section of the connector screw and the bottom of the camera
housing.
3. The retaining element according to claim 2, further comprising:
an elastic support element adapted to be interposed between the
connecting section and the bottom of the camera housing.
4. The retaining element according to claim 1, wherein the
rear-engagement section is integrally formed with the spacing
section and has an overall shape of a hook.
5. A connector screw securable to a threaded bushing embedded in
the bottom of a camera housing, said connector screw having a
retaining element according to claim 1, which is detachably
fastened to the connector screw.
6. A connector for connecting a carrying strap to a camera,
comprising a connector screw according to claim 5.
7. A retaining element that is detachably secured at a connector
screw embedded in a threaded bushing at a bottom of a camera
housing for preventing the connector screw from loosening in the
threaded bushing, the retaining element comprising the following
components: i) a connecting section adapted to detachably secure
the retaining element to the connector screw; ii) a spacer section
which adjoins the connecting section and is adapted to extend along
the bottom of the camera housing when the connector screw, with the
retaining element secured thereto, is screwed in the threaded
bushing; and iii) a rear-engagement section which adjoins the
spacer section and extends at an angle relative to the spacer
section, wherein the rear-engagement section is adapted to engage
behind a wall of the camera housing, in particular the rear wall
which adjoins the bottom of the camera housing; wherein the
connecting section has a pin adapted to be inserted into a radial
slot in a section of the connector screw or compressed between a
collar section of the connector screw and the bottom of the camera
housing; and an elastic support element adapted to be interposed
between the connecting section and the bottom of the camera
housing.
8. The retaining element according to claim 7, wherein the
connecting section is formed as an open and elastically deformable
clamping ring and wherein the retaining element is adapted to have
a force-locking connection to a handle section of the connector
screw.
9. The retaining element according to claim 7, wherein the
rear-engagement section is integrally formed with the spacing
section and has an overall shape of a hook.
10. A connector screw securable to a threaded bushing embedded in
the bottom of a camera housing, said connector screw having a
retaining element according to claim 7, which is detachably
fastened to the connector screw.
11. A connector for connecting a carrying strap to a camera,
comprising a connector screw according to claim 10.
12. The retaining element according to claim 7, further comprising:
a closure section detachably connectable to the connecting section
and complementing the connecting section to form a ring adapted to
completely surround a region of the connector screw, wherein the
spacer section and the rear-engagement section are arranged at the
connecting section or at the closure section.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Technical Field
The invention relates to a retaining element for securing a
connector screw, which can be secured in a threaded bushing that is
embedded in the bottom of a camera housing. It also relates to a
connector screw provided with such a retaining element, and finally
also to a connector for connecting a carrying strap to a camera,
which contains such a connector screw with a retaining element.
Background Information
For many years, photo cameras and also video cameras have been
equipped with threaded bushings embedded in the bottom of their
respective camera housings, which were originally arranged and
conceived for connecting the camera to a tripod using a tripod
screw for securing. The corresponding threaded bushings are still
used for this purpose. However, a further option for using these
threaded bushings has recently been established, in which
connectors are provided with suitable connector screws for the
connection to carrying straps. A correspondingly equipped transport
system for cameras is described, for example, in WO 2008/131135
A1.
In the case of the camera transport system shown there, a connector
screw is screwed into the threaded bushing originally provided for
the connection of a tripod screw on the bottom of a camera housing,
and the connector connected to the connector screw is provided with
carrying straps to be worn transversally over the torso or
perpendicularly over the shoulder. With this way of carrying, the
camera then hangs sideways on the user's body, and the entire
weight of the camera is born by the connection between the threaded
bushing and the connector screw. This weight can amount to several
kilograms, especially when SLRs having larger lenses with higher
focal length are used. In addition, if the camera transport system
disclosed in the cited document is used, the screw connection
formed is exposed to further strain by movements of the user when
walking or also during the use of the camera for taking pictures;
transverse movements, jogging movements and the like occur in such
cases.
These movements can then result in the connector screw that has
been screwed into the threaded bushing at the bottom of the camera
housing, becoming loose. If this happens and if the connector screw
is completely detached from the threaded bushing, in the worst case
the camera attached to the transport system can drop down and hit
the ground and be damaged. Considering the costs of high-quality
cameras and lenses, in such a case a considerable financial loss,
easily amounting to several thousand euros, can arise very quickly.
Accordingly, said screw connection has to be made particularly
secure.
To date, for the purpose of securing this connection, only elastic
washers are used, which are placed between a cantilever section at
the head part of the connector screw and the bottom of the camera
housing and which upon tightening of the connector screw apply a
compressive force directed against the screwing direction and thus
make for an additional wedging of the threads of the connector
screw in the corresponding counter threads of the threaded bushing.
However, it has now turned out that, in particular in a situation
in which the user of the camera support system runs quickly, this
safeguard is not sufficient to deal with the violent up and down
movements and impacts or shocks, and the connector screw will still
become unscrewed from the threaded bushing.
SUMMARY
Accordingly, the invention addresses the problem of providing an
additional securing means of this screw connection in such
cases.
In order to achieve this object, the inventor provides a retaining
element having the features of a connecting section for detachably
securing the retaining element to the connector screw; a spacer
section, which extends along the base of the camera housing and
adjoins the connecting section when the connector screw, with the
retaining element secured thereto, is screwed in the threaded
bushing; and a rear-engagement section, which adjoins the spacer
section and extends at an angle to the latter, for engaging behind
a wall of the camera housing, in particular the rear wall,
adjoining the bottom. Advantageous further developments of this
retaining element include that the connecting section is formed as
an open and elastically deformable clamping ring for the
force-locking connection to a handle section of the connector
screw. The retaining element further includes a closure section
detachably connectable to the connecting section and complementing
the latter into a ring completely surrounding the connector screw,
wherein the spacer section and the rear-engagement section are
arranged at the connecting section or at the closure section. The
connecting section has a pin-like design for insertion into a
suitable radial slot in a section of the connector screw and/or for
compression between a collar section of the connector screw and the
bottom of the camera housing, possibly with the interposition of an
elastic support element. The rear-engagement section is integrally
formed with the spacing section and has the overall shape of a
hook. As a further aspect of the invention, a connector screw
having such a retaining element as indicated above, and a connector
for connecting a carrying strap to a camera, having a connector
screw with such a retaining element, is disclosed.
The retaining element according to the invention is therefore
detachably securable to a connector screw, which is securable to a
threaded bushing, which is embedded in the bottom of a camera
housing, and prevents the removal of the connector screw from the
threaded bushing. This safeguard is achieved by the retaining
element having the following three sections:
i) a connecting section for detachably securing the former to the
connector screw;
ii) a spacer section, which extends along the base of the camera
housing and adjoins the connecting section, when the connector
screw, with the retaining element secured thereto, is screwed in
the threaded bushing; and
iii) a rear-engagement section, which adjoins the spacer section
and extends at an angle to the latter, for engaging behind a wall
of the camera housing, in particular the rear wall, adjoining the
bottom.
The retaining element of the invention thus leads to an additional
securing of the connector screw screwed into the threaded bushing
against an unintentional release by very effective means appearing
to be simple. This is ultimately achieved by connecting the
retaining element to the connector screw screwed into the threaded
bushing, for example using a screw head or a handle section
thereof, and then arranging the retaining element in such a way
that it engages behind a wall of the camera housing, in particular
the rear wall adjoining the bottom, with the rear-engagement
section, in such a way that in case of a possible rotation of the
camera screw, this with the rear-engagement section forms a stop
striking against the corresponding wall of the camera housing, in
particular the rear wall, and there makes for a form-locked
arrester.
At this point, it has to be emphasized that the detachable securing
of the connecting section on the connector screw can also be
realized in such a manner that the connecting section is not
directly connected to the connector screw or a part thereof, but
also, for instance, by clamping this connecting section between the
connector screw and the bottom of the camera housing while at the
same time securing the rotational position of the retaining element
relative to the connector screw, possibly even based on the
interposition of further elements, for example an elastic support
element such as a rubber disk or the like as it is being used in
existing connector screws.
According to an advantageous embodiment variant, the connecting
section can be formed, in particular, as an open and elastically
deformable clamping ring for the force-locking connection to a
handle section of the connector screw. In this case, a
corresponding corrugation can be formed on an inner side of the
clamping ring, which, for a better non-rotatable purchase of the
connecting section at the section of the connector screw, if the
same is knurled or corrugated, as is often the case, said
corrugation in addition to the clamping force and the frictional
connection formed thereby results in a form fit, if it engages with
the corresponding corrugation on the handle section of the
connector screw. The connecting section designed as a clamping ring
can then include means for closing around the connector screw, i.e.
for forming a fixed ring. Such means may e.g. be a lug designed
having latching tabs, latching grooves or comparable latching
means, formed to an open side of the clamping ring, and a
counterpart for threading the latch with corresponding
complementary-shaped latching means.
In particular in such a solution, the rear-engagement section can
also be arranged on a closure section that can be detachably
connected to the connecting section and can be added to a ring
completely surrounding the connector screw. For such a solution,
the connecting section is particularly reliably and firmly secured
to the connector screw and locked by attaching the closure section.
In principle, it is, of course, also possible for the
rear-engagement section to be formed on the connecting section and
the closure section without the rear-engagement section, without
the effect of the invention being any different.
Alternatively, and in a particularly simple embodiment variant, the
connecting section of the retaining element can also have a
pin-like design for insertion into a suitable radial slot in a
section of the connector screw, for example in a handle section,
and/or for compression between a collar section of the connector
screw and the bottom of the camera housing, as already mentioned,
possibly with the interposition of an elastic support element. Such
a pin-like connecting section can be force-locked by a press-fit
due to appropriate dimensioning of the outer contour of this pin
section and of the inner contour of the slot, through the formation
of an oversized outer contour, and possibly also by a slightly
conical design of the pin-shaped connecting section and the
corresponding counter-fit of the slot after it was pushed into the
slot. Alternatively, a thread can also be formed here, which can be
used to screw the pin-shaped connecting section into a
corresponding counter-thread in the slot. For securing the
connecting section of the connector screw by compressing it between
a collar section thereof and the bottom of the camera housing, for
instance, an intermediate elastic support member, for instance, a
rubber washer, may be provided with corresponding recesses into
which the pin-shaped connecting section can be inserted. If the
elastic support element is then secured in a rotationally fixed
manner to the connector screw, the required securing of the
retaining element at the connector screw relative to the connector
screw results.
In principle, other designs of the connecting section are also
conceivable and possible, the person skilled in the art being able
to determine corresponding design variants on the premise that a
connection shall be created, which ensures securing of the
retaining element on the connector screw that is secured against
twisting and pulling.
It is also apparent that a connector screw, which is also described
in the invention, and which has the retaining element described
above, offers the advantage that it can be secured much better
against unintentional loosening from the threaded bushing at the
bottom of a camera housing. In the same way, a connector for
connecting a camera to a carrying strap, which has such a connector
screw having the retaining element, can also be improved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
Further advantages and features of the invention will become
apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments.
In the figures:
FIG. 1 shows three views of a first exemplary embodiment of a
retaining element according to the invention in coaction with a
connector screw;
FIG. 2a shows a top view of a camera bottom with a connector screw
screwed into the threaded bushing arranged there and secured with
the retaining element according to FIG. 1;
FIG. 2b shows a second top view of a camera bottom with a connector
screw screwed into the threaded bushing arranged there and secured
with the retaining element according to FIG. 1;
FIG. 3a shows an isometric view of a second embodiment of a
retaining element according to the invention;
FIG. 3b shows a top view of a second embodiment of a retaining
element according to the invention;
FIG. 3c shows a bottom view of a second embodiment of a retaining
element according to the invention;
FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of the retaining element of
FIG. 3a-FIG. 3c in coaction with a connector screw;
FIG. 5a shows an exemplary embodiment of a retaining element
according to the invention in coaction with a connector screw;
FIG. 5b shows a shows another exemplary embodiment of a retaining
element according to the invention in coaction with a connector
screw;
FIG. 5c shows a further exemplary embodiment of a retaining element
according to the invention in coaction with a connector screw;
FIG. 6 shows a top view similar to that of FIG. 2, of a camera
bottom with a connector screw and retaining element arranged there,
in the design of one of the exemplary embodiments shown in FIG.
5a-FIG. 5c;
FIG. 7 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a retaining element
with associated connector screw;
FIG. 8 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a retaining element
with associated connector screw;
FIG. 9 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a retaining element
with associated connector screw;
FIG. 10a shows an exemplary embodiment of a retaining element
according to the invention in coaction with a connector screw;
FIG. 10b shows another exemplary embodiment of a retaining element
according to the invention in coaction with a connector screw;
FIG. 10c shows a further exemplary embodiment of a retaining
element according to the invention in coaction with a connector
screw;
FIG. 11 shows yet another exemplary embodiment of a retaining
element according to the invention in an open position;
FIG. 12 shows the retaining element according to FIG. 11 in an
intermediate position during closing or opening; and
FIG. 13 shows the retaining element of FIG. 11 in a closed
position, as is secured around and to a connector screw (not shown
here).
The figures show selected exemplary embodiments of a retaining
element according to the invention in coaction with a connector
screw, or a connector having such a connector screw, in a very
schematic drawing. These exemplary embodiments are described with
reference to the figures in more detail below.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a retaining element 1
according to the invention. This retaining element 1 serves to
secure a connector screw of a connector 2 when connected to a
threaded bushing at the bottom of a camera housing and serves to
prevent an unintentional unscrewing thereof. The connector 2 has a
strap eyelet 4 connected in an articulated manner via a ball
bearing 3, through which a carrying strap can be threaded. A handle
section 5 of the connector 2, which can be gripped and turned into
the threaded bushing for screwing in the connector screw, is
provided with a corrugation. Due to the perspective shown here, the
screw connection to the thread of the connector screw is not
visible. In the perspective shown here, it is hidden behind a
rubber ring 6 connected to the handle section 5.
An arrow P is used to indicate here that, for securing the
connector 2 or the connector screw, this handle section 5 is
connected to a connecting section 7 of the retaining element 1
having the shape of an open ring. This connecting section 7 is
formed from an elastically flexible material, for example, a
plastic or a metal, and can be stretched by spreading the opening 8
apart, so as to guide it over the handle section 5. Due to the
elasticity of the material, the connecting section jumps back into
its initial annular position when an applied spreading force is
removed. A spacer section 9 is formed integrally on the annular
connecting section 7, which at its outer end once again merges
integrally into a rear-engagement section 10, which projects
downwards in a hook-like manner. In the detailed view shown on the
right in FIG. 1, a circumferential collar 11 protruding inwards at
an upper edge of the annular connecting section 7 is shown, which
for locking an axial position of the retaining element 1 to the
handle section 5 clicks in a circumferential groove 12 formed there
and snaps into place there.
FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b show two representations of how the connector 2
is screwed into the bottom B of a housing of a camera K and how the
retaining element 1 is attached. It can be seen here that the
rear-engagement section 10, starting from the bottom B of the
housing of the camera K, extends along the rear wall of this
housing and thus forms a form-fitting stop. A comparison of the
representations in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b show that the widths or
depths of the bottoms B of the housings of the camera K are
different here, resulting in the stop point A designated by a
circle changing correspondingly, i.e. the retaining element 1 is
adapted to different camera formats. Furthermore, it can be seen
that in the direction of the arrow L, which shows the direction of
rotation for loosening the connector screw from the thread of the
threaded bushing, a self-locking effect is established by pressing
the rear-engagement section 10 further against the back wall of the
camera K, thus preventing a release movement.
FIG. 3a through FIG. 3c shows three different views of a second
exemplary embodiment of a retaining element 13. This also has an
annular connecting section 7, which is perforated in an opening 8,
and which is connected to a spacer section 9 with a rear-engagement
section 10 formed thereon. In the case of the retaining element 13
referred to herein, the axial securing at the connector screw is
accomplished in a different manner than with the circumferential
collar 11 in the previously described exemplary embodiment. Here,
bars 14 are formed on an upper rim of the connecting section 7
(only one is shown in FIG. 3a, further bars are located at the
positions indicated by dashed lines) also inwardly projecting
leaf-like tongues 15 are located on an underside of the rim of the
connecting section 7. These tongues 15 can be seen particularly
well in FIGS. 3b (top view) and 3c (bottom view). As can be seen in
FIG. 4, the bars 14 on the connecting section 7 overlap an upper
edge of a connector screw of a connector 16, and the tongues 15
grip an elastic buffer disk 17 on the connector 16. The connector
16 is a different type of connector, having an eye-like opening
(not shown in detail) for connection to a snap hook on an upwardly
running, bar-shaped section 18.
FIG. 5a through FIG. 5c show two further exemplary embodiments of a
retaining element according to the invention. Here a very simple
retaining element 19 or 20, which in each case takes the form of a
simple hook, is shown. Here, the connecting section is a pin-like
section at the free end 21 of the spacer section 9, the outer
contour of which correlates with the geometry of corresponding
slots 22, 23, which are radially guided into the connector screw
(into the connector 16). In the embodiment variant according to
FIG. 5a, a rectangular cross-section is provided and in the
embodiment variant according to FIG. 5b a circular cross-section is
provided. In the case of the retaining elements 19, 20 shown here,
a rear-engagement section 10 is also formed in the manner of a
hook, which in the mounted state, as shown in FIG. 6, i.e. when the
connector 16 is screwed into the threaded bushing at the bottom B
of the housing of a camera K using a connector screw, protrudes
over the rear wall of this housing and is locked there at the stop
point A. The design of the connecting element 7 is again such that,
in the case of a force applied in the direction of the detaching
direction L, the open ring is pulled tight and thus leads to an
even stronger hold and an improved securing of the connector
screw.
In FIG. 5c, the connector 16 can be seen with the connector screw
and dashed lines indicating the slots 22, 23, which extend radially
into the body of the connector 16 or the connector screw, and into
which the connecting section 21 of the retaining element 19 or 20
is inserted. In this embodiment variant, the retaining element 19
or 20 is held in the slots 23 by a press-fit, the former having
been force-pressed into one of these slots 22, 23 and then held
there in a friction-locked manner, because of the correspondingly
selected dimensions. To loosen the connector screw or the connector
16, the retaining element 19 or 20 is then withdrawn from the slot
22, 23. This may be effected for instance by means of a left turn
and the unlocking caused thereby, or by simply pulling against a
resistance. After the retaining element 19 or 20 has been released,
the connector 16 including the connector screw can be detached from
the threaded bushing at the bottom B of the housing of the camera
K.
FIGS. 7 to 9 show further embodiment variants corresponding to the
exemplary embodiments shown in FIG. 5. In FIG. 7, the retaining
element 24 in the connecting section 25 is provided with a thread
and is screwed into the slot 26, which is provided with an internal
thread, on the connector 16 or the connector screw. In the
exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 8, the retaining element 19
is inserted into recesses 27 of an elastic buffer member 28 (e.g. a
rubber washer) fixedly connected e.g. glued, to the connector
screw, and there clamped into the threaded bushing by further
screwing in of the connector screw or the connector 16. FIG. 9
shows a similar embodiment variant, in which the clamping occurs
between the buffer element 28 and the bottom B of the housing of
the camera K.
FIG. 10a through FIG. 10c shows a further exemplary embodiment of a
retaining element 29 according to the invention. The connecting
section of which is formed like a washer, flat and having an
opening 30 through which the threaded part 31 of the connector
screw of the connector 16 is passed. A band-shaped rise 32, which
serves to prevent the retaining element 29 from rotating, is formed
on a top-side of the spacer section 9. This band-shaped elevation
31, as shown by the encirclement in FIG. 10c, is pressed into the
buffer element 28, thus obtaining a non-rotatable stop. This
retaining element 29 also has a rear-engagement section 10, which,
as indicated in FIG. 10c, is locked behind a rear wall R of a
camera K, thus providing a safeguard against an unwanted unscrewing
of the connector 16.
Finally, FIGS. 11 to 13 show a further exemplary embodiment of a
retaining element 33 according to the invention. This is in turn
designed bipartite with a connecting section 34 formed as an open
clamping ring and a closure section, which can be inserted into the
annular opening of the connecting section 34 and then closes the
latter.
On an inside of the connecting section 34, a corrugation 36 is
formed, which is complementary to a corrugation on the outer
surface of a connector screw and which connects the connecting
section 34 to the connector screw. A corrugation applied to the
outside of the connecting section 34 and of the closure section 35
is purely for appearances and can be omitted.
In the exemplary embodiment shown here, a rear-engagement section
39 integrally formed with a spacer section 38 is secured, via the
spacer section 38 also integrally formed to the closure section 35,
to the closure section 35. The connecting section 34 and the
closure section 35 are preferably made of a plastic material.
At the edges of the annular opening of the connecting section 34,
cylindrical connecting projections 40 running in parallel with
their longitudinal axes are formed. Corresponding slots (not shown
in the figures) formed in the connecting section, are guided over
the former in the connecting section for the secured and positive
connection of the two sections 34 and 35. In doing so, a certain
undersize of the openings, preferably provided with a longitudinal
slot, in comparison to the diameters of the connecting projections
40, provides an additional clamping action and friction-locked
safeguarding of the connection.
The procedure for mounting the retaining element 33 is shown in
FIGS. 12 and 13. To this end, the connecting section 34 is first
set on the threaded bushing, for example, of the tripod thread
bushing, arranged on the camera, in such a way that the annular
opening points in the direction of the camera rear wall in such a
way that, by attaching the closure section 35, the rear-engagement
section 39 rests against a camera wall, in particular the camera
rear wall. Then, as shown in FIG. 13, the closure section 35 is set
on the connecting projections 40 and connected to the connecting
section to form a tight ring (FIG. 13). When the closure section 35
is connected to the connecting section 34, a tensile force further
closing the ring can also be applied, e.g. controlled by a slightly
conical design of the connecting projections 40 or by a slightly
tilted alignment with one another. Loosening and disassembly are
then conducted in reverse order. In the exemplary embodiment shown
in FIGS. 11 to 13, in a variant, the spacer section and the
rear-engagement section can also be arranged, in particular formed,
on the connecting section 34, instead of the closure section
35.
The exemplary embodiments shown in the preceding exemplary
embodiments are aimed at further explanation of possible embodiment
variants and their particular advantages and features but do not
limit the invention. This invention is defined in its broad
generality in the following claims.
LIST OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS
1 Retaining element
2 Connector
3 Ball bearing
4 Strap eyelet
5 Handle section
6 Rubber ring
7 Connecting section
8 Opening
9 Spacer section
10 Rear-engagement section
11 Collar
12 Groove
13 Retaining element
14 Bars
15 Tongue
16 Connector
17 Elastic buffer disk
18 Bar-shaped Section
19 Retaining element
20 Retaining element
21 Free end
22 Slot
23 Slot
24 Retaining element
25 Connecting section
26 Slot
27 Recess
28 Buffer element
29 Retaining element
30 Opening
31 Threaded part
32 Band-shaped elevation
33 Retaining element
34 Connecting section
35 Closure section
36 Corrugation
37 Corrugation
38 Spacer section
39 Rear-engagement section
40 Cylindrical connecting projections
A Stop point
B Bottom
K Camera
L Arrow
P Arrow
R Rear wall
* * * * *